Senior officers have prepared a dossier on 207 men and women; community to protest

Ahmedabad Mirror Bureau amfeedback@indiatimes.com

Are Ahmedabad police profiling Chhara community? So it seems as they have prepared a dossier specific to the community that has long been demonised as “criminals”. This, despite the fact that the community members have worked hard to correct the image by producing a number of professionals and artistes. According to sources, a DCP level officer has prepared a “book’ that includes details of 207 men and women from the community who have committed crime in the city and elsewhere in the state. The data include name of the person, present address, age, education, activity, past record of crime, modus operandi, family member’s details,latesthistoryofcrimeandconnection with the gang. Community members are angry with the police for preparing the dossier. Manoj Tamaeche, a senior advocate from the community, said that the way police targeted a single community is condemnable. “Chharas are always been victimized due a negative mindset of the police and the administration. The community is on the path of social and economical development and the youth are into higher education in a big way. Such discrimination is not acceptable.” Singer Vishwanath Batunge of Sa Re Ga Ma fame said the book is a conspiracy to defame the entire community by the police. “Our community will protest this (profiling). People from other states are involved in the loot and theft in the city. Instead of stopping crime and reforming themselves, cops are blaming a community. Ourcommunitymembershaveexcelled in every walk of life.” The dossier says that community members indulge in seven types of crime: chain-snatching, stealing by diverting the attention of the victim, looting people coming out of banks, theft in buses and trains, burglary, illegal liquor trade and stealing from the dickey of two-wheelers. They go on a missioninagroupoffourtoeightwith one of them leading the gang. The document lists the codes that the criminals in community use. If they plan a theft in a day they call it “one-day” and if they decide to go out for theft they call it “test match”. Most of the thieves wear full sleeve shirt and sandals. They often put a tattoo on their hand or they can be identified by the mark of wounds on their body. If the police go to arrest anyone, community women would accuse the cops of abuse or physically harming them. The community has produced several professionals and artists of repute